DOZENS of police are lining the streets outside Batley and Dewsbury Magistrates Court.

Around 30 protesters, including members of the Combined Ex-Forces wearing hooded tops with skulls on, are outside the court with placards calling for those who insult British armed forces to be jailed.

Azhar Ahmed, 19, of Fir Avenue, Ravensthorpe, is due to appear before magistrates this morning charged with racially aggravated public order offences. The case was brought after a post was put on Facebook calling for all soldiers to be shot.

Police were outside the court before 9am today and more officers have joined them throughout the morning.

Four video police vans are parked outside Dewsbury railway station and three rows of officers are blocking the entrance to the court building in Grove Street, Dewsbury, with more police inside the court and surrounding neighbouring buildings.

Protesters started chanting ‘scum’ when the defendant arrived at court.

It follows the death of six soldiers in Afghanistan two weeks ago. The bodies of those soldiers, including Cpl Jake Hartley, from Dewsbury, are due to repatriated today.